Student Loan Interest Tax Deduction and Education Credits 101

Welcome to that special time of year that involves collecting all your tax documents, topping up IRA accounts, and figuring out whether to do your own taxes or use an accountant.

For recent graduates and current students, there are a few benefits the IRS offers to help defray the costs of education. Here’s an overview of tax deductions and credits related to education costs.

Student Loan Interest Deduction

American Opportunity Tax Credit

Lifetime Learning Credit

Borrowers of qualified federal and private education loans may be able to deduct up to $2,500 in interest on their federal income-tax returns. This deduction is available over the life of your loan(s), and the repayment plan you select doesn’t matter.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit allows you to claim up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition, fees, books, supplies and other education-related expenses paid during the first four years of post-secondary education. Forty percent of the credit (up to $1,000) is refundable, so you can claim it even if you owe no tax.

You don’t have to be a degree-seeking student to qualify for this credit, rather, it can be claimed by anyone who takes an undergraduate, graduate, or professional course at an eligible institution during the taxable year.

The Student Loan Interest Deduction

A qualified education loan is one used solely to pay for the cost of higher education for you, your spouse, or a dependent, so long as the student was enrolled at least half-time in a degree program at the time of the loan. This includes federal and private loans, including private loans used to refinance other student loans.

While you don’t have to itemize your return to qualify for the deduction, it’s not available on Form 1040EZ. You’ll have to use either Form 1040A or Form 1040.

You can deduct the full amount of interest you paid (up to $2,500) during the taxable year, so long as your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) doesn’t exceed $80,000 as a single/head of household filer or $160,000 as a married couple filing jointly (but note, if you’re married filing jointly you can only claim one deduction, not two.) Beyond those amounts, the deduction is gradually reduced.

To take advantage of this deduction, keep an eye out for Form 1098-E from your lender(s).

However, note that it’s not accessible if you’re married and filing separately, or if you can be claimed as a dependent on someone else’s return.

American Opportunity Tax Credit

If you were enrolled in college in 2015, you could qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit if you attended, at least, half-time. This credit allows you to reduce your tax liability dollar-for-dollar. Like the student loan interest deduction, you’ll need to file Form 1040 or 1040A to take advantage of this credit.

The college or university you attended will provide you with a copy of Form 1098-T that reflects amounts billed for tuition and related expenses that can use toward your credit.

The credit is gradually phased out if your MAGI exceeds $80,000 for single/head of household filers or $160,000 on a joint return.

Lifetime Learning Credit

Whether you’re working toward a degree or taking a class on the side for self-improvement, this credit might help defray your outlay — as long as the institution where you’re taking a class is recognized by the Department of Education. For the moment, that does not include coding boot camps. (You can search accredited schools here.)

This education tax credit of up to $2,000 covers the cost of tuition, books, and any equipment or supplies required by your school.

To qualify for the full credit, your MAGI cannot exceed $53,000 as a single/head of household filer or $107,000 as a married couple filing jointly and you’ll have to file Form 1040 or 1040A.